Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!caip!sri-spam!nike!lll-crg!lll-lcc!well!mo From: mo@well.UUCP (Maurice Weitman) Newsgroups: net.veg Subject: Re: Questions About Vegetarianism Message-ID: <1440@well.UUCP> Date: Wed, 16-Jul-86 13:30:28 EDT Article-I.D.: well.1440 Posted: Wed Jul 16 13:30:28 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 17-Jul-86 06:23:51 EDT References: <3175@jhunix.UUCP> Reply-To: mo@well.UUCP (Maurice Weitman) Distribution: net Organization: Whole Earth Lectronic Link, Sausalito CA Lines: 92 In article <3175@jhunix.UUCP> ins_aset@jhunix.UUCP (Susanne E Trowbridge) writes: >Hello, >I am a recent convert to vegetarianism, and was a bit dismayed to >find out that this newsgroup isn't exactly high traffic. Therefore, >I thought I'd post myself. I have some questions, which I hope >somebody will reply to, either in this forum or by e-mail. > >1. I have heard that there are different types of vegetarians, >including lacto-vegetarians and vegans. What is the difference? Lacto-v... eat dairy, ovo-v... eat eggs, and vegans, well, they not only don't eat *any* animal products, but most don't *use* anything that comes from an animal: obviously leather and furs, but also more obscure things like most soaps and even things like film (which con- tains gelatin). The general idea is to not exploit or benefit from the use of (other) animals. Truly, vegans are the ne plus ultra of vegies. >2. What are some of the essential vitamins and minerals in meat >which must be supplemented in other ways in the vegetarian's diet? I think B-12 is the only thing you'd likely to be missing, but I do think it's a good idea to take a mineral and vitamin supplement. >3. I have decided to continue to eat fish and seafood as well as >chicken very occasionally. Is this common, or do most vegetarians >shun all food that came from a living creature? Sue, I don't think there is such a thing as "most vegetarians". I've been a vegie for over ten years, and, except for one hot dog at a baseball game (yukko!), haven't eaten any beef or fowl. For about three months, I did eat seafood (at the time I lived with a woman who ate everything). And for three years, I ate no dairy or eggs (during which time, I felt the best, by the way). I have known many people who abstain from beef to consider themselves veg- ies, but, really, I think a vegie won't eat any animal. I also think that shouldn't matter to you: you should eat what you feel comfortable eating, both morally and politically (not to mention for health), without regard to the name you/they put on "it". It would be better for you and the world to eat as little animal-based food as possible, but the key is for you to feel good about it so that you can sustain it. It's really not hard! As with any change in lifestyle/habit, it will take some energy and time to adjust and learn and settle in to a comfortable regimin. And it can be a pain in the ass socially: dinner at other people's homes, barbeques, many restaurants, etc. are not necessarily ideal places for vegies, especially while it's new for you, too. >4. Have you encountered any hostility due to your decision to >become a vegetarian? Minimal. Mostly from people who don't feel good about eating other animals themselves. But, I'm from Berkeley, and unless you're dif- ferent here, you're considered wierd. %-) Some friends who knew me b.v. had/have a hard time (Oh, you STILL don't eat meat???) with it, but generally, it's your comfort with it and attitude about it that will determine how others react. >5. What are some foods which may have "hidden" animal content >(i.e. beef broth in some soups, foods which use animal fat)? You've got the idea... soups, sauces, Mexican foods (lard), etc. >6. What are the best vegetarian cookbooks? Some of my faves: _Laurel's Kitchen_, has a great section, nearly half the book, devoted to nutrition, with many interesting recipes; _Moosewood Cookbook_ and _The Enchanted Broccolli Forest_, both by Mollie Katzen, really good, tasty dishes; _Diet for a Small Planet_ and _Recipes for a Diet..._, both by Frances Lappe' Moore (or F.M.L.) these books started (for me at least) the political awareness of eating lower on the food chain (it takes seven times as much grain to get the same amount of protein by eating a cow than the grain she eats), and the concept of protein complementarity (balancing foods to enhance the quaility of protein, a concept which seems to have become less important with recent information). These should give you a good start! >I hope to hear from you soon!! -- Good luck, and enjoy it! maurice -- Disclaimer: Any errors in spelling, tact or fact are transmission errors. Maurice Weitman 9600 ..!{hplabs,lll-crg,ptsfa,glacier}!well!mo | 57600 (415)549-0280 voice (415)549-0388 modem-2400 this^is not 300 mcimail mweitman a pipe 110 P. O. Box 10019 Berkeley, CA 94709